Former MVP and 9-time All-Star gives Padres’ Jackson Merrill strong ROY endorsement

It has taken a while, but more and more people are getting behind the idea that San Diego Padres rookie Jackson Merrill is the pretty clear choice for NL Rookie of the Year right now. Yes, yes...Paul Skenes' starts are getting loads of press and Tyler Fitzgerald has been great since coming up, but there just isn't a rookie that has been up all year and has done more for his (very good) team than Merrill has.

We've gone over the numbers and the big moments and Merrill's competition a number of times now. Ultimately, it is on the voters to actually look at his case and make an educated decision beyond just riding various hype trains. Part of that comes from covering what Merrill has done, but it sure doesn't hurt when high profile personalities and former players join his camp.

You would expect those connected to the Padres to be on board with Merrill's candidacy. That made it very striking when former MVP, ROY, and all-around legend Fred Lynn gave Merrill his "vote" this week out of nowhere, noting he believes the race isn't particularly close.

Baseball legend Fred Lynn thinks Padres' Jackson Merrill is the NL ROY in a landslide

One caveat here is that Lynn does have a slight connection to the Padres, as he played the final season of his career with San Diego in 1990. As an offensive star, it's also possible he has a bias against pitchers earning the award, which isn't overly fair to Skenes in particular. Still, a player with Lynn's credibility going on the record to say that Merrill is the NL Rookie of the Year "by a mile" shouldn't be discounted.

Merrill has played the entire 2024 season in the big leagues, has played an entirely new position exceedingly well, and leads all rookies in fWAR. Sure, you can find some guys that have higher rate stats or maybe exceed Merrill in one category. However, you won't find another rookie period that has been as consistently and all-around excellent as Merrill this year.

Right now, it does feel like the tide has turned in Merrill's favor when it comes to the ROY race. Not only has Lynn gone on the record, but sports analysts far and wide have shared their public appreciation for what Merrill has done this year. Skenes might end up being the best pitcher of his generation (he is certainly talented enough to do it) and Fitzgerald might turn into a consistent 35+ homer threat with the Giants going forward. That said, Lynn was right that none of that changes the fact that Merrill has been the best rookie in the NL this year...by a mile.

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